Filling thread transfer and clamping device

ABSTRACT

A loom comprises a shuttle race. A shuttle body having a fell side is carried by the shuttle race and movable along the latter. A jaw clamp protrudes laterally from the fell side and is springbiased to a closed position. An expanding member is carried by said shuttle body and operable to cause said clamp to be opened against and closed by its spring bias. Stops are carried by said structure adjacent to said shuttle race and engageable by said expanding member to operate the same so as to cause said clamp to be opened and closed as said shuttle body moves along said shuttle race. Two filling thread feed nozzles are spaced apart along said race and have each an outlet end having an axis which lies in the parting plane of the clamp and extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of said race. The nozzles are adapted to discharge a tubular air stream directed toward said race and adapted to hole a filling thread portion protruding from said outlet end in a centered position, in which said thread portion is arranged to be received by said clamp when the same moves in an open position past said tube.

United States Patent Filter Dec. 3, 1974 FILLING THREAD TRANSFER ANDCLAMPING DEVICE [75] Inventor: Walther Filter, Langenhagen,

Germany [73] Assignees: Vereinigle Osterreichische Eisen-UndStahlwerke-Alpine Montan Aktiengesellschaft, Vienna, Austria;Etablissement Wanderfield & (10., Schaan, Liechtenstein [22] Filed: Aug.13, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 387,722

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 18, 1972 Austria 7141/72[52] U.S. Cl. 139/126 [51] Int. Cl D0311 47/24 [58] Field of Search139/122 R, 125, 126

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,413,155 12/1946 Rickelmann139/126 2,876,802 3/1959 Frentzel 139/126 3,416,572 12/1968 Giavini139/126 France 139/125 Primary Examiner-Henry S. Jaudon Attorney, Agent,or Firm-Kurt Kelman 5 7] ABSTRACT A loom comprises a shuttle race. Ashuttle body having a fell side is carried by the shuttle race andmovable along the latter. A jaw clamp protrudes laterally from the fellside and is spring-biased to a closed position. An expanding member iscarried by said shuttle body and operable to cause said clamp to beopened against and closed by its spring bias. Stops are carried by saidstructure adjacent to said shuttle race and engageable by said expandingmember to operate the same so as to cause said clamp to be opened andclosed as said shuttle body moves along said shuttle race. Two fillingthread feed nozzles are spaced apart along said race and have each anoutlet end having an axis which lies in the parting plane of the clampand extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of said race. Thenozzles are adapted to discharge a tubular air stream directed towardsaid race and adapted to hole a filling thread portion protruding fromsaid outlet end in a centered position, in which said thread portion isarranged to be received by said clamp when the same moves in an openposition past said tube.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures FILLING THREAD TRANSFER AND CLAMPING DEVICEThis invention relates to a filling thread transfer and clamping devicefor gripper shuttles for looms, in which the filling thread is movedthrough a feed tube and at its end to be clamped is held in a transferposition by means of an air stream.

In a known device of this kind (U.S. Pat. No. 2,770,261 the shuttle isprovided at each end with an opening for receiving the filling thread,and a clamping slider is provided which is slidable in the longitudinaldirection of the shuttle body and which may be positioned to hold thefilling thread in the opening at one end or the other ofthe shuttle. Inthis arrangement, the feed tubes for the filling thread extend in thedirection of the pick. An air stream is passed through the feed tubesand holds the end of the filling thread approximately in the directionof the axis of the openings at the ends of the shuttle. To enable aclamping of the end of the filling thread in the associated opening ofthe shuttle body, the clamping slider must be gripped and displacedrelative to the shuttle body by a separate, rela tively complicateddevice, which is controlled by a rotatable c'am. Besides, this operationrequires that the shuttle is at rest exactly in a predetermined positionfor the transfer.

In another known device for transferring the filling thread to thegripper shuttle (German Pat. No. 813,379), the filling thread comingfrom the filling bobbin is moved through an air nozzle extendingtransversely to the shuttle race and is moved by the air stream to theclamping device in the shuttle. In this case, the transfer of thefilling thread from the feed nozzle-to the clamping device is notreliable and there is also the disadvantage that the shuttle must be atrest exactly in a predetermined position for receiving the thread.

In another known device for transferring and clamping the filling thread(Printed German application No. 1,023,423), slits for clamping thefilling thread are formed in the shuttle body on its longitudinal sidewhich faces the fell. The clamping slits can be expanded by means of acam bar provided in the shuttle box and a corresponding lever providedon the shuttle itself so that the filling thread which has been caughtadvances as far as to a knife edge in the shuttle and is cut off there.Whereas in this arrangement the filling thread is received by theshuttle when the latter is moving, a relatively complicated mechanicalfeeder is required adjacent to each shuttle box to hold part of thefilling thread transversely to the direction of movement of the shuttleso that the filling thread is caught in the clamping slit of theshuttle.

Another known clamping device for use in gripper shuttles protrudestoward the fell (British Pat. specification No. 1,167,698) and consistsof a rocker which cooperates with two stationary jaws and is pivoted onan axis that is transverse to the direction of the pick. This clampingdevice is operated by a roller which is mounted on an arm and engaged bythe shuttle when the same is advanced together with the sleytransversely to the direction of the pick so that the roller appliespressure to the open jaw end of the rocker, the clamp formed by the jawsis closed and the clamp on the other side of the rocker is opened. Theknown clamping device has the disadvantage that it cannot clamp thefilling thread as the shuttle moves into the shed and that the fillingthread must be mechanically transferred.

In another known gripper shuttle (Published German application No.1,535,832), the clamping device consists of a clamp disposed in theshuttle body rather than of a jaw clamp protruding like a beak from theshuttle body. The filling thread must be introduced from above by amechanical thread feeder into a longitudinal groove in the movableclamping jaw in order to ensure that the thread will be gripped. The jawis operated by a fixed stop acting on an engaging ledge on the jaw sothat the same disadvantages occur which have been describedhereinbefore.

Finally, a false shuttle has been disclosed (French Pat. application No.1,383,420), whose clamping jaws are operable as the shuttle engagesstops provided along the shuttle race. Again, the filling thread must bemechanically transferred to the clamping jaw. This involves a highstructural expenditure and a relatively low shuttle speed.

It is an object of the invention to eliminate these disadvantages and toprovide a device which is of the kind described first hereinbefore andin which a reliable gripping of the end of the filling thread during afast movement of the shuttle is ensured, regardless of the thickness ofthe thread, so that no time will be lost by a stoppage and positioningof the shuttle. Besides, the device should be structurally simple andreliable in operation.

This object is accomplished according to the inven tion in that theshuttle comprises a jaw clamp which laterally protrudes from the shuttlebody toward the fell, and which is adapted to be opened against springforce by means of an expanding member which is operable in known mannerby engaging stops arranged adjacent v to the shuttle race. A feed tubeis provided with a tubular nozzle for guiding the air stream, whichnozzle is fitted on the outlet end of the feed tube and has an axiswhich lies substantially in the parting plane defined by the jaw clampwhen closed and extends transversely to the shuttle race. In accordancewith the invention, the air stream does not advance the filling threadbut merely serves to hold said thread in a centered position in the axisof the tubular air stream; A tubular air stream will ensure a muchbetter centering than an air stream which flows through the feed tubeitself. The end of the filling thread protrudes freely from the feedtube and need not be introduced into a bore or the like of the shuttlebut is reliably gripped by the jaw clamp as the latter moves past thefilling thread. It will be sufficient to close the jaw clamp at theproper time. This time can easily be selected by means of the stops.During the movement of the shuttle, the jaw clamp protruding toward thefell pulls the filling thread through the shed to the other side andthen opens to release the filling thread. The jaw clamp is then reversedand subsequently takes over the filling thread which is presented onthis side. The beaklike shape of the clamp affords the advantage thatthe filling thread is inserted close to the fell even if the shuttlebody itself is relatively larger in cross-section. The structure issimple and does not require a highly accurate positioning of the shuttleas it receives the filling thread because the jaw clamp may be so widethat a reliable gripping of the end of the filling thread along arelatively large distance is ensured. The air nozzle ensures that theend of the filling thread extends exactly into the opening of the clamp.

In a preferred of the invention, the expanding member consists of aspreading rod which is rotatably mounted in the shuttle and extendsbetween the jaws of the clamp and is co-rotationally connected to twoaxially spaced cross-rods, which are spaced 90 apart from each other andcooperate with the stops provided at the shuttle race. The jaw clampconsists preferably of a U shaped, bent spring strip and is closed oropened, depending on the angular position of the spreading rod. Thespreading rod is simply rotated by the cross-rods, which during themovement of the shuttle engage the stops and in response thereto arepivotally moved accordingly. Because there are two cross-rods, which areaxially spaced and are spaced 90 apart and cooperate with correspondinglaterally spaced stops, the opening and closing of the jaw clamp duringthe movement of the shuttle in both directions is ensured. This resultsalso in a simple structure without need for particularly smalltolerances.

To ensure a reliable gripping and clamping of the end of the fillingthread, the free ends of the clamp jaws are provided on the inside inknown manner with transverse beads which mesh like teeth.

According to the invention, the clamp jaws have air passage openingswhich prevent the formation of a disturbing air cushion between the jawsof the open clamp. Such air cushion could deflect the freely protrudingthread end which is centered by the air nozzle and could thus endangerthe reliable entrance of that thread end into the jaw clamp.

It has been found that it will be particularly suitable if the tubularnozzle fitted on the feed tube consists of a sleeve, which is formedwith a plurality of air passages, which are uniformly angularly spacedand extend parallel to the axis and are open to the internal bore andcan be closed there by the wall of the feed tube. Such nozzle willproduce an air stream which flows along the outside of the feed tube andforms the narrowest possible envelope for guiding the freely protrudingend of the filling thread.

The feed tube together with the nozzle may be movable out of the path ofmovement of the jaw clamp to prevent damage to the end of the threadduring the return movement of the shuttle.

To enable an adaptation to different cloth widths and to avoid anexcessive amount of thread waste in case of a reduced cloth width, thestops and the feed tube as well as the nozzle may be displacable alongthe shuttle race.

An embodiment of the invention is shown diagrammatically and by way ofexample on the accompanying drawings, in which FIGS. I and 2 are,respectively, a partly transverse sectional view and a top plan viewshowing a device according to the invention for transferring andclamping the filling thread,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the clamp in open position,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV--IV in FIG. 3 through theclamp,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line V-V in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation showing on a larger scale the air nozzleaccording to the invention, and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view similar to that of FIG. 2, showing two feedtubes.

A gripper shuttle l is provided with rollers 2 moving on a shuttle race3 and is also provided with a jaw clamp 4 which protrudes laterallytoward the fell and is adapted to be opened by a spreading rod 6operable by stops 5 provided on the shuttle race. The spreading rod 6extends between the jaws 7 and 8 of the clamp, which consists of aU-shaped bent spring strip. The spreading rod 6 is rotatably mounted inthe body 9 and is provided with two axially spaced cross-rods l0 and 11angularly spaced apart and cooperating with the stops 9 which are spacedapart like the cross-rods. As the cross-rods move past the stops and inengagement therewith, the cross-rods turn the spreading rod through 90so that the jaw clamp is closed and opened in alternation whenever thespreading bar is turned.

To ensure that the gripper shuttle 1 remains exactly in its path duringthe operation of the spreading rod 6 by the stops 5, the race is formedwith profiled guide rails 12, disposed on the side opposite to the jawclamp and in engagement with a suitably shaped guide member 13 or thelike of the gripper shuttle.

The filling thread is moved through a feed tube 14, the outlet end 15 ofwhich has an axis which lies approximately in the parting plane definedby the clamp 4 and which extends transversely to the shuttle race 3. Theoutlet end 15 of the feed tube carries a tubular nozzle 16 whichconsists of a sleeve 17, fitted on the tube end 15. The sleeve is formedwith a plurality of uniformly angularly spaced air passages 18 which areparallel to the axis and open to the internal bore and closed there bythe wall of the feed tube 14. The nozzle 16 communicates with an airsupply conduit .19 so that the end of the filling thread protruding fromthe outlet opening 15 of the feed tube 14 is held by the tubular airstream which emerges from the angularly arranged air passages 18 of thenozzle 16 in a centered position for the transfer to the grippershuttle.

The jaw clamp 4 is opened by the spreading rod and one stop 5 as the jawclamp enters the shuttle box. When leaving the shuttle box, the jawclamp 4 is closed because the spreading rod 6 is rotated by the otherstop, spaced from the first-mentioned stop, as mentioned above. Thisclosing of the jaw clamp 4 takes place when the latter is disposedadjacent to the presented end of the filling thread. To ensure that thepresented end of the filling thread cannot be deflected by air cushions,which might be formed by the movement of the jaw clamp, the two jaws 7and 8 of the jaw clamp 4 are formed with air passage openings 20. Theclamping of the end of the filling thread is improved because the jaws 7and 8 are formed with transverse beads 21 which mesh like teeth.

When the end of the filling thread has been clamped on the shuttle, thefilling thread is inserted into the shed. Before moving into theopposite shuttle box, the shuttle moves over the two stops 5. That stopwhich is nearer to the fell and serves to close the clamp is not engagedat this time because the jaw clamp is closed. The second stop 5 strikeson the associated cross-red 11 so that the speading rod 6 is turnedthrough 90 to open the jaws and turn the second cross-rod 10 into thepath of the associated stop. When moving out of the shuttle box, theshuttle moves over the stop which serves to open the jaw clamp but doesnot engage the same because the clamp is open. As the clamp moves pastthe end of the filling thread presented on the other side of the loom,the correspondingly adjusted second stop rotates the spreading rod sothat the jaw clamp closes owing to the resiliency of the jaws and theend of the new filling thread is then clamped and pulled along.

It will be understood that, after the insertion of each filling thread,the latter must be severed by shears disposed on the sides of the loom.It will be desirable to provide an operative connection between the feedtube 14, which carries the nozzle 16, and the movable blade of theshears so that the feed tube and nozzle are moved out of the path of thejaw clamp and thus to prevent damage to the end of the thread during thereturn movement of the shuttle.

What is claimed is:

1. In a loom, the combination comprising 1. a carrying structuredefining a shuttle race extending in a longitudinal direction,

2. a shuttle body carried by the structure on the shuttle race andmovable therealong in the longitudinal direction,

a. the shuttle body having a fell side,

3. a jaw clamp carried by the shuttle body and protruding laterally fromthe fell side thereof in a direction transverse to the longitudinaldirection of the shuttle race,

a. the jaw clamp being spring-biased to a closed position,

4. an expanding member carried by the shuttle body and operable to causethe jaw clamp to be opened about a parting plane against the spring biasof the jaw clamp,

a. the jaw clamp opening and closing in respect of the parting planeabout an axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the shuttlerace,

5. stops carried by the structure adjacent the shuttle race andengageable by the expanding member to operate the expanding member so asto cause the jaw clamp to be opened as the shuttle member moves alongthe shuttle race, and

6. two filling thread feed tubes spaced apart in the longitudinaldirection of the shuttle race and laterally adjacent thereto on the fellside of the shuttle body, each feed tube having a. an outlet end with anaxis extending in the parting plane of the jaw clamp and extendingtransversely to the longitudinal direction of the shuttle race, and

b. a tubular nozzle fitted on the outlet end and adapted to discharge atubular air stream about the axis of the feed tube outlet end in adirection transverse to, and towards, the shuttle race, the tubular airstream being adapted to hold a filling thread portion protruding fromthe outlet end in a centered position in alignment with the partingplane of the jaw clamp when the same moves in an open position past theoutlet end whereby the protruding filling thread portion is received inthe open jaw clamp.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the jaw clamp comprises two jawsarranged on a respective side of the parting plane, each of the jawshaving a plurality of air passage openings.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1, in which said jaw clampcomprises two jaws adapted to be opened and closed and said expandingmember comprises a spreading rod rotatably mounted in said shuttle body,and two cross-rods corotationally connected to said spreading rod andspaced apart in the axial direction of said spreading rod and angularlyspaced apart, each cross-rod protruding from opposite sides of saidspreading rod, and

said cross-rods are engageable with said stops to operate said expandingmember.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1, in which each of said tubularnozzles consists of a sleeve formed with a main longitudinal borereceiving said feed tube and with a plurality of uniformly angularlyspaced air passages which are disposed radially outwardly of said boreand extend parallel to the axis of the sleeve and are radially inwardlyopen to said bore and closed there by said outlet end.

1. In a loom, the combination comprising
 1. a carrying structuredefining a shuttle race extending in a longitudinal direction,
 2. ashuttle body carried by the structure on the shuttle race and movabletherealong in the longitudinal direction, a. the shuttle body having afell side,
 3. a jaw clamp carried by the shuttle body and protrudinglaterally from the fell side thereof in a direction transverse to thelongitudinal direction of the shuttle race, a. the jaw clamp beingspring-biased to a closed position,
 4. an expanding member carried bythe shuttle body and operable to cause the jaw clamp to be opened abouta parting plane against the spring bias of the jaw clamp, a. the jawclamp opening and closing in respect of the parting plane about an axisextending in the longitudinal direction of the shuttle race,
 5. stopscarried by the structure adjacent the shuttle race and engageable by theexpanding member to operate the expanding member so as to cause the jawclamp to be opened as the shuttle member moves along the shuttle race,and
 6. two filling thread feed tubes spaced apart in the longitudinaldirection of the shuttle race and laterally adjacent thereto on the fellside of the shuttle body, each feed tube having a. an outlet end with anaxis extending in the parting plane of the jaw clamp and extendingtransversely to the longitudinal direction of the shuttle race, and b. atubular nozzle fitted on the outlet end and adapted to discharge atubular air stream about the axis of the feed tube outlet end in adirection transverse to, and towards, the shuttle race, the tubular airstream being adapted to hold a filling thread portion protruding fromthe outlet end in a centered position in alignment with the partingplane of the jaw clamp when the same moves in an open position past theoutlet end whereby the protruding filling thread portion is received inthe open jaw clamp.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the jaw clampcomprises two jaws arranged on a respective side of the parting plane,each of the jaws having a plurality of air passage openings.
 2. ashuttle body carried by the structure on the shuttle race and movabletherealong in the longitudinal direction, a. the shuttle body having afell side,
 3. a jaw clamp carried by the shuttle body and protrudinglaterally from the fell side thereof in a direction transverse to thelongitudinal direction of the shuttle race, a. the jaw clamp beingspring-biased to a closed position,
 3. The combination set forth inclaim 1, in which said jaw clamp comprises two jaws adapted to be openedand closed and said expanding member comprises a spreading rod rotatablymounted in said shuttle body, and two cross-rods corotationallyconnected to said spreading rod and spaced apart in the axial directionof said spreading rod and angularly spaced 90* apart, each cross-rodprotruding from opposite sides of said spreading rod, and saidcross-rods are engageable with said stops to operate said expandingmember.
 4. The combination set forth in claim 1, in which each of saidtubular nozzles consists of a sleeve formed with a main longitudinalbore receiving said feed tube and with a plurality of uniformlyangularly spaced air passages which are disposed radially outwardly ofsaid bore and extend parallel to the axis of the sleeve and are radiallyinwardly open to said bore and closed there by said outlet end.
 4. anexpanding member carried by the shuttle body and operable to cause thejaw clamp to be opened about a parting plane against the spring bias ofthe jaw clamp, a. the jaw clamp opening and closing in respect of theparting plane about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction ofthe shuttle race,
 5. stops carried by the structure adjacent the shuttlerace and engageable by the expanding member to operate the expandingmember so as to cause the jaw clamp to be opened as the shuttle membermoves along the shuttle race, and
 6. two filling thread feed tubesspaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the shuttle race andlaterally adjacent thereto on the fell side of the shuttle body, eachfeed tube having a. an outlet end with an axis extending in the partingplane of the jaw clamp and extending transversely to the longitudinaldirection of the shuttle race, and b. a tubular nozzle fitted on theoutlet end and adapted to discharge a tubular air stream about the axisof the feed tube outlet end in a direction transverse to, and towards,the shuttle race, the tubular air stream being adapted to hold a fillingthread portion protruding from the outlet end in a centered position inalignment with the parting plane of the jaw clamp when the same moves inan open position past the outlet end whereby the protruding fillingthread portion is received in the open jaw clamp.